Razor stropping device



Nov. 24, 1936. C. H. STAUFFER RAZOR STROPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 7 1935 54 7 a 33 z? y Patented Nov. 24, 1936 1 OFFICE 2 Claims.. (Cl. 51-63) This invention relates to devices for stroppingsafetyrazor blades, andparticularly to devices'of this nature in which a strop is used, which strop is brought against one or the other edge of the blade as the strop is moved in opposite directions.

The object of the present invention is to provide a very simple and readily operated device of this character which has very few parts, and

those simply and cheaply made, and in which provision is made for automatically turning or oscillating the blade at each reverse movement of the strop to bring one or the other edge of the blade in correct relation to the strop.

My invention is illustrated in the accompany ing drawing, wherein Figure l is a longitudinal transverse section through a stropper constructed in accordance with my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '4 is a longitudinal section of the blade holder.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a casing formed in two sections l and II, the section I0 being the body section and the section H the cover, these sections being hinged to each other at l2, and the two sections at their free edges being provided with co-acting latch elements [3 acting to latch the sections in a closed position. The casing is preferably rounded at its ends, as shown, and the casing is provided with hooks M and I5 projecting from the side wall and from an end wall of the casing, whereby the casing may be supported in either of two positions.

Disposed through the body section H) of the casing is a shaft l6 which is freely rotatable and which carries upon it the spool I! which is rotatable with the shaft. Operating over this shaft is the strop l8 which has its bight portion embracing the spool H, and its ends depending downward in parallel relation to each other through openings I9 in the two sections l0 and il. The strop is provided with protuberances which prevent the strop from being withdrawn from the casing and also provides means whereby the hands of the operator may readily grip the strop to oscillate it.

Disposed parallel to one end of the spool l1 and having frictional engagement therewith is the disc 2i which constitutes a clutch disc.

Also surrounding the end of the shaft l6 beyond the clutch disc is a coiled spring 22, one end of this spring bearing against a washer 23 carried by the shaft, the other end of the spring being extended radially outward to constitute an arm 24. The disc 2! has lugs 25 struck out from it, which are adapted to be bent over this arm 24 of the spring, so that the spring and the clutch disc move together, the arm 24 being radial to the clutch disc. The spring acts to force the clutch disc against one end face of the spool I! so that this disc will rotate with the spool unless the disc be impeded.

For the purpose of limiting the oscillatory movement of the disc 2| I-stamp out the lugs 26 from the face of the disc. These lugs are spaced from each other and are disposed in more or less diametrical opposition to the lugs 25. A co-acting stop 2! is stamped out from the case and extends downward between the two stop lugs 26. Therefore when the clutch disc 2| is moved in one direction, it can move until one of the stops 26 engages the stop 21 which impedes further movement of the clutch disc in this direction, and vice vers'a, when the spool is shifted in the other direction the clutch disc will move with it until further movement of the clutch disc is impeded by the other stop 26 engaging the stop 21. Thus the clutch disc can only have a limited oscillatory movement and communicates this oscillatory movement to the arm 24 constituted by the extension of the spring 22.

Extending through the lower portion of the section Ill is a shaft 28 which carries upon it or has formed with it the two blade clamping members 29 and 30, the member 29 being formed with the shaft, the member 30 being pivoted to the member 29 by a pivot pin 3|. At one end the member 29 is extended upward above the under face of the pivoted member 30 and extends inward toward the pivot pin 3| as at 32. Thus when the member 39 is turned into alinement with the member 29, the beveled extremity 33 of member 30 is engaged beneath the overhanging portion 32. The member 29 is formed with studs 34 adapted to engage through the apertures in the usual blade A. The member 29 is provided at one corner with an opening with which a spring 35 is engaged, the other end of this spring being engaged with a hook 36 stamped from the case. The object of this spring is to urge the blade holder into a vertical position should the strop not be used properly. In other words, when the strop is not being operated the blade holder will be disposed in a vertical position with the blade, in case any is in the holder, extending vertically upward and out of contact with the strop.

The operation of this device is as follows: To

insert a blade within the holder the casing is opened and the section 30 of the blade holder is turned outward and the blade is then inserted onto the studs 34 an the section 30 turned back to its original position, this member 30 Wedging under the overhanging portion 32 so as to hold it in place.

Obviously any suitable latching device may be used, however, to hold the part 30 in alinement with the part 29. If, now, the strop [8 be reciprocated after the case is closed, it will act to rotate the spool 11, and with it the disc 2|. As the disc 2| rotates in one direction, it will, through its arm 24, act to rotate the blade holding shaft 28 to bring one edge of the blade against the inside face of the strop. At this time, however, one of the stops 26 has struck the stop 2'! which prevents any further movement of the clutch disc 2| and the parts will remain in this position with the blade bearing against the inner face of the strop while the strop is being moved in one direction. Immediately upon movement of the strop in the reverse direction, reverse movement of the clutch disc will occur by reason of its friction with the spool until the other of the stops 26 comes in contact with the stop 21, this bringing the other edge of the blade into proper relation with the inside face of the strop. Continued movement of the strop in this manner, of course, acts to sharpen the edges of the blade. It will thus be seen that by reciprocating the strop the blade is oscillated to bring its opposite edges in contact with the strop. If the strop is released with the blade strop in the holder, the spring 35 will act to swing the blade holder to its vertical position and carry the blade out of contact with the strop. This will prevent the blade from accidentally cutting the strop if the sharpener or stropper be played with and not in actual use.

While I have illustrated certain details of construction which permit this device to be made very cheaply, I do not wish to be limited to these details except as called for in the appended claims.

What is claimed, is:-

1. A razor blade sharpener including a casing formed to provide a body portion and a cover portion, a freely rotatable shaft disposed within one end of the body portion, a spool thereon, a clutch disc loosely surrounding the shaft and bearing against one end of the spool, a helical spring loosely surrounding the shaft and urging the disc into contact with one end of the spool, the spring having a radial extension constituting a resilient arm attached to the disk and extending radially therefrom, the spring being resilient and flexible in a plane at right angles to the shaft, an oscillatable blade holder mounted in the casing below the shaft and having a slotted arm into which the first-named arm extends, and a strop having its bight extending over the spool and its ends depending and extending through openings in the casing.

2. A razor blade sharpener, including a supporting frame, a freely rotatable shaft disposed at one end of the frame and mounted therein, a spool carried by said shaft and having one end spaced from the frame, a clutch disk loosely surrounding the shaft and frictionally bearing against one end of the spool, a helical spring surrounding the shaft and disposed between the frame and the adjacent face of the clutch disk and urging the disk into contact with one end of the spool, the inner end of the spring having a radial extension constituting an arm attached to the clutch disk and extending radially outward therefrom, coacting stops on the frame and clutch disk limiting the movement thereof in either direction, an oscillatable blade holder supported in the frame parallel with the shaft and having a slotted arm into which the resilient arm extends, and a stop having its bight extending over the spool.

CHRISTIAN H. STAUFFER. 

